Costa Rica stun Italy

Bryan Ruiz's goal in the first-half against Italy sealed England's elimination from the World Cup and saw Costa Rica progress to the last 16 with a fine 1-0 win over Italy. Photo by: Ruben Sprich/Reuters

Bryan Ruiz's goal in the first-half against Italy sealed England's elimination from the World Cup and saw Costa Rica progress to the last 16 with a fine 1-0 win over Italy in Recife on Friday.

Ruiz struck right at the end of the first-half only minutes after the Costa Ricans had a valid appeal for a penalty waved aside by the referee.

Costa Rica's victory saw them move onto six points and means that pointless England's slim hopes of getting second spot are extinguished as Uruguay and Italy, both on three points, play each other in the final batch of group games.

It will be the second time Costa Rica have reached the last 16, the previous occasion being in the 1990 finals.

Italy's poor performance was encapsulated by the fact they had not gone goalless in a World Cup finals match since the 1998 edition in France. – AFP